This is the second of three reports ThinkProgress filed from the anti-gay marriage rally in Bronx, New York.
Yesterday’s anti same-sex marriage rally in New York sought to portray religious opponents of marriage equality as tolerant of gay people, with speakers repeatedly insisting that they “loved” “our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.” But when ThinkProgress talked with some of the sponsors of the event, they reiterated gay stereotypes and homophobic misconceptions.
In a pre-rally event, ThinkProgress asked Rev. Kittim Silva — Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and a member of Radio Vision Cristiana, a powerful Latino Christian radio station which helped sponsor yesterday’s rally — about his claims that same-sex marriage would “destroy the youth.” Silva, who repeatedly stressed that he “respected” gay people — “I do not have nothing against gay people” — argued that same-sex marriage would push more people into homosexuality and said that it would be better for children to remain in the foster care system than be adopted by gay couples. He also endorsed the concept of so-called “ex-gay movement” and explained that he had seen people become heterosexual:
- SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WILL TURN PEOPLE GAY:
SILVA: Today the gay movement is like in the 60s when there was a hippie. Today it is like confusing, everybody want to be gay.
- CHILDREN ARE BETTER OFF IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM:
VOLSKY: But if there is also a lot of children in the foster system, do you think it’s preferable for those children to go into gay households?
SILVA: No, I don’t think so.
VOLSKY: So it’s better for them to stay in the system, you think?
SILVA: Yes.
- GAY PEOPLE CAN BECOME STRAIGHT:
VOLSKY: And why do you think people become gay? Do you think it’s something they’re born with or do you think it’s a choice they make?
SILVA: Some, I believe that they born with gay tendencies, or else they become to be gays because they are looking for identity in the same way they become alcoholic, to [inaudible], and other things. I believe that sometimes what they see and they want to repeat.
VOLSKY: And do you think they can go back straight?
SILVA: Yes, many have been changed.
VOLSKY: You know people?
SILVA : People in church have been changed among whites, blacks, it can be changed.
Watch the entire interview:
A preacher at the event also proclaimed that “those who practice [homosexuality] deserve death” while a group leading the rally compared same-sex marriage to bestiality, incest, and pedophilia.
For more coverage of the rally, click over to Good As You, LGBTQ Nation, and JoeMyGod.
Transcript:
VOLSKY: You said it was going to destroy the youth. What do you mean by that?
SILVA: What I mean by that…it give a bad example, the marriage. If they live together, I have respect. I do not have nothing against gay people. I do respect them. But it will be a bade example for the family because we believe that the matrimony, marriage should be between man and woman. But on the other hand, many gay people have blessed our nation, are great people, great morals, I have respect for them. But the only thing that we are here is against the marriage. Not against them.
VOLSKY: How do you think marriage is going to destroy the youth? What is going to lead to that destruction?
SILVA: The youth growing up in a home in which father and father and mama and mama, they will not keep a good image of a man and a woman.
VOLSKY: What will happen to the child?
SILVA: They will see them kissing each other, embracing each other and especially these people, they are very confused. So I believe it will be bad for them. Some gay people, they will be good example — but not every gay people.
VOLSKY: So you think the child will be more confused?
SILVA: It will be more confused.
VOLSKY: In what kind of way? How?
SILVA: The kissing, the papi live with papi. Kissing papi, married to papi. They will say if that
we’ll do the same thing. VOLSKY: Ah, so they’ll become gay as well?
SILVA: Yes.
VOLSKY: Have you seen any changes though? I know New York recognizes gay marriages from other states, have you seen any changes in the state since that passed?
SILVA: I believe there are changes. Today the gay movement is like in the 60s when there was a hippie. Today it is like confusing, everybody want to be gay.
VOLSKY: Oh, so are more people gay now because of that, you think?
SILVA: Yes, I think so, yes.
VOLSKY: Has anything else changed?
SILVA: No, I think it would be a bad example. I repeat, I have a lot of respect.
VOLSKY: So if more people become gay, what do you think are the negative consequences of that?
SILVA: There will be more young people turning into gays.
VOLSKY: And why do you think that’s bad?
SILVA: Because they will see that as example. Remember, young people are looking for identity. They have a crisis of identity. Many of them have been crawling with someone else and they have been abuse and they will say I can’t do that. I believe they can change.
VOLSKY: And there are a lot of gay people in the city, as you know, have families, have children — what do you think of that?
SILVA: I don’t think think it’s right.
VOLSKY: You don’t think it’s right, so what should happen to those children? Should they be taken out of the family, should they…
SILVA: I don’t say they have be taken out of the family, maybe they can get more love…
VOLSKY: But if there is also a lot of children in the foster system, do you think it’s preferable for those children to go into gay households?
SILVA: No, I don’t think so.
VOLSKY: So it’s better for them to stay in the system, you think?
SILVA: Yes.
VOLSKY: It’s better to be in the system?
SILVA: Yes, in the system.
VOLSKY: Why do you say that?
SILVA: Because the example will not be so go good for young people. When I was growing up, it was different. Today it is more difficult, so…
VOLSKY: And why do you think people become gay? Do you think it’s something they’re born with or do you think it’s a choice they make?
SILVA: Some, I believe that they born with gay tendencies, or else they become to be gays because they are looking for identity in the same way they become alcoholic, to [inaudible], and other things. I believe that sometimes what they see and they want to repeat.
VOLSKY: And do you think they can go back straight?
SILVA: Yes, many have been changed.
VOLSKY: You know people?
SILVA : People in church have been changed among whites, blacks, it can be changed.
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